Arpactophilus nere sp. nov.

(Figs. 77–78)

Diagnosis. Arpactophilus nere is the only New Caledonian species in the genus in which the clypeus and labrum have two, prominent, pointed long teeth (Fig. 77). Other distinctive features are the yellow markings on clypeus and frons (Fig. 77) as well as the yellow mesoscutellum.

Description. FEMALE: Total length 5.4 mm; forewing length 3.6 mm.

Body black, with areas of yellow. Yellow: lateral clypeus; labrum (slightly darker); mandible; palpi; scape; pedicel; area on frons close to inner compound eye margin, broad on level of scape, narrow towards vertex (Fig.

77); area around mandibular base; anterior pronotal margin; dorsal transversal band on pronotum; band on pronotum parallel to ventral pronotal margin; pronotal lobe; area on mesopleuron below pronotal lobe; area on mesopleuron next to lower 2/3 of mesopleural fissure; tegula; anterior part of mesoscutellum (similar to coloration in Fig. 19); legs. Flagellum brown. Wings hyaline; pterostigma dark brown.

Head about 0.9 × as long as wide in frontal view. Apical margin of clypeus projecting medially with steep Vshaped incision, apicolateral angles of incision forming two long, pointed teeth (Fig. 77). Apical margin of labrum projecting medially and with deep V-shaped incision, apicolateral angles of incision forming two long, pointed teeth that project beyond apex of clypeal margin (Fig. 77). Ventral mandibular tooth nearly 1/3 of total mandibular length, almost reaching opposite mandibular base. Palpal formula 4:3. Frons imbricate with sparse setae. Frontal carina present from median ocellus to upper half of clypeus, there slightly elevated. Scape 7.2 × as long as wide. Ocellar triangle anterior of tangent between upper posterior orbits of compound eyes, lateral ocelli anterior of tangent by more than their diameter. Occipital carina interrupted dorsally (Fig. 6). Gena imbricate with sparse setae, without tubercles, spines, or dorsoventral carina. Hypostomal midventral line faintly carinate, posteriorly with bordering short transverse carinulae on hypostomal integument, not angulate.

Mesosoma about 1.8 × as long as wide in dorsal view. Propodeum about 1.0 × as long as wide in dorsal view. Mesosoma imbricate (Fig. 78), except dorsal surface of propodeum; lateral surface of propodeum also transversely carinulate; dorsal surface of propodeum coarsely reticulate (similar to pattern in Fig. 18). Impressed, but not pitted sulcus present posterior to mesoscuto-mesoscutellar sulcus. Hypersternal sulcus present as concave elongate area close to omaulus. Metafemur 3.5 × as long as wide. Metatibia without differently colored area apically. Pretarsal claws with teeth. Forewing with two submarginal cells; anterior border of submarginal cell II shorter than posterior border. Hind wing with five distal hamuli.

Metasoma matt, punctation sparse. Metasomal sternum II without bulge (as in Fig. 1). Pygidium with broad row of silk setae apically.

MALE: Difference from female aside from genitalic structures: generally lighter brown; teeth on apical margin of clypeus much smaller and not pointed; mandible tooth shorter. Metasomal sternum VIII slightly narrow.

Remarks. Arpactophilus nere is easily identifiable by its prominent pointed teeth of the apical margin of clypeus and labrum (Fig. 77). The most similar species is A. merle, which mainly differs in the aforementioned structure of the clypeal and labral margins and coloration of the upper frons. See also remarks-section of A. merle .

Material examined. HOLOTYPE ♀: “ NEW CALEDONIA 11522: 22°02’S x 166°28’E, 950m, Dzumac Road, junction. 26 Jan 2004. G. Monteith. pyrethrum, trees & logs” [QM].

PARATYPE 1♂: “ NEW CALEDONIA 11522: 22°02’S x 166°28’E, 950m, Dzumac Road, junction. 26 Jan 2004. G. Monteith. pyrethrum, trees & logs” [QM].

Etymology. The specific epithet is taken from the name Nerë, one of the New Caledonian native languages. It is treated as a noun in apposition.